海角大神

Ukraine talks: President Trump warned of 鈥渧ery severe consequences" if Russia does not agree to end the war in Ukraine following a Friday summit in Alaska. His comments came after a virtual meeting between the U.S. and European leaders yesterday, which they described as friendly. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian President Putin is 鈥渂luffing鈥� about seeking peace.

Bullish bourses:聽Global stocks have rallied recently, driven by firming expectations of a U.S. interest rate cut in September, leading to record highs on Wall Street. A number of market-based measures of rate expectations indicate that investors are growing less concerned about the deflationary impact of tariffs following the recent trade deal between the United States and the European Union.

Foreign aid: The Trump administration can cut billions of dollars approved by Congress for overseas assistance, an appeals court ruled yesterday. The funding was suspended as part of the government鈥檚 efforts to dissolve the U.S. Agency for International Development. Donors are finding new ways to get money to people in need.

ICE detention: A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to improve conditions at a New York City immigration holding facility. Detained migrants had complained about cleanliness, overcrowding, and a lack of hygiene supplies such as soap and toothbrushes.

Museum review: Eight Smithsonian museums are under scrutiny ahead of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States next year. The White House has called for a comprehensive review of exhibits in an effort to remove 鈥渄ivisive or ideologically driven鈥� content. Officials say they are rebuilding trust, while critics say the government is censoring historical narratives.

Drying out: Alcohol consumption is at a record low in the United States. For the first time, most adults view even moderate drinking as harmful, according to a new Gallup survey. Some 54% of Americans reported drinking alcohol, down from 62% in 2023. Young people, too, are giving up drinking.

Kennedy Center awards: President Trump, the new chairman of the center, announced he will be hosting the glamorous honors ceremony this year. Honorees include 鈥淩ocky鈥� actor Sylvester Stallone, singer Gloria Gaynor, and rock band Kiss.

鈥� Staff, The Associated Press, and Reuters

As Ukrainians field swarms of destructive Russian drones, the world is watching the future of modern warfare unfold.

Getting Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table has been a key first step. But U.S. President Donald Trump鈥檚 skills at dealmaking will be challenged, as Ukraine and other European countries see little room for compromise.

Israel is seeing a groundswell of protest against the war in Gaza. Following the government鈥檚 decision to send ground forces into Gaza City, a new women鈥檚 group, including mothers of combat soldiers, set up a protest camp on the border.

Israel鈥檚 decision to launch an all-out offensive against Hamas in Gaza City will force its 900,000 Palestinian residents to find somewhere else to live. Exhausted by war and hunger, many find that prospect unthinkable.

Frustrated Democratic voters describe their party as 鈥渨eak鈥� and 鈥渢epid.鈥� As Democrats try to regain their footing ahead of next year鈥檚 midterm elections, some are calling for fresh faces and fresh thinking.

Dogs have been called man鈥檚 best friend, but the ones on Thailand鈥檚 streets are often overlooked. The nonprofit Happy Doggo strives to meet the basic needs of many canines. The group鈥檚 founder says fellow dog-lovers have taught him to 鈥渆njoy the little things in life that we have.鈥�

Last week, when President Donald Trump announced he would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 15, he presented it as 20th-century-style diplomacy: Two big powers will decide the future of a smaller country, Ukraine, discussing 鈥渟ome swapping of territories鈥� as part of a possible peace deal. Ukraine鈥檚 president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, would not be in the room where it happens.

Mr. Zelenskyy still probably won鈥檛 be at the table during the talks in Alaska. Yet over recent days, the leader of a country with about 40 million people has shown how smaller countries can wield influence beyond their numbers, bringing unique characteristics to become respected as big players, not bit players.

With a tenacity like that of his soldiers, the Ukraine leader has rallied other smaller countries in Europe to his side, forming a temporary alliance to reshape the summit鈥檚 agenda. To the world media, he cited a century or more of international law that Ukraine would not concede territory by threat of force. 鈥淯krainians will not gift their land to the occupier,鈥� he said.

And along with major European leaders, he persuaded Mr. Trump in a phone call Wednesday to accept key principles 鈥� such as the inclusion of any country in a negotiation to determine its existence.

After the call, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said, 鈥淲e made it clear that Ukraine must be at the table at the next meeting. We want things to go in the right sequence: We want a ceasefire at the very beginning, and then a framework agreement must be drawn up.鈥�

The White House has now lowered expectations for the talks, saying they are a 鈥渓istening exercise鈥� rather than direct negotiations. This turnaround reflects a global trend for small states 鈥� small in land, population, military, or economy 鈥� to not see themselves as small in other aspects.

Ukraine, for example, has tapped the innovation of its people to design world-class drones. It has tightened up the integrity of officials by cracking down on corruption, giving its army an edge over Russia鈥檚 corrupt military. And it has built trust with other nations that also see national sovereignty as legally sacrosanct.

Countries like Singapore, Qatar, and Armenia have learned to play to their strengths 鈥� such as in finance, technology, or mediation 鈥� to earn respect from big nations. Their enlarged roles belie the words of Greek historian Thucydides, 鈥淭he strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.鈥� Equality between nations now rings truer than ever.